What's the net spend gonna be? Rumors, speculation, predictions, finalized deals. Inject all of it into this thread! Incoming - Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Southampton - £15m) - Joe Hart (Unattached - Free) - Matt Doherty (Wolves - £13.4m) - Outgoing - Troy Parrott (year loan - Millwall) - Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton - £12m) - Oliver Skipp (year loan - Norwich) -
Troy Boy loaned to Millwall for the upcoming season. Our last loaned ST to Millwall turned out ok, hopefully that's the secret.
Rumo(u)r is that we're in for QPR's number ten, Eberechi Eze. Our scouts supposedly love him, and Levy likes the deal; but it's going to be down to whether or not Jose's keen. And, one supposes, whether anyone else tops our (presumably coming) offer. This from SC ITK. I've seen him once or twice, but don't recall anything standing out - which means nothing, of course. The same source says that any rumors of high-priced loans coming in are dead wrong, and that those of Lucas leaving are equally so. Lamela could be sold if the price is right; but Jose quite likes him and his 'attitude'.
Looks like we are close to a semi-swap deal with Southampton. We would get Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg for £15m and Saints would get Kyle Walker-Peters for £12m. Hojbjerg is the DM that we badly need and KWP was surplus to requirements or not good enough. https://www.skysports.com/football/...-pierre-emile-hojbjerg-and-kyle-walker-peters
The Guardian, which is a reliable source, is also reporting the transaction. https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...15m-fee-for-southamptons-pierre-emile-hjbjerg As for RBs, we already have someone who could play there - Japhet Tanganga - he can pretty well play anywhere in the back 4. I would be more concerned with LB, Ben Davies is well past his best-before date.
An Aurier & Tanganga RB duo doesn't instill much confidence in me, but to each their own. I view Tangana at RB much like Dier at RB. Sure, he *can* play there, but a side that should be competing for CL qualification probably needs better. Someone like Max Aarons (probably too expensive) or Matty Cash would be my choice.
Maybe Gedson at right back? For left back, I read somewhere that they are working with Sessegnon. That would be a good use of a guy we paid a lot for, and I don't see him getting a lot of playing time further up the pitch.
I had completely forgotten (as I had already thought we completed it), and saw his name today... Where the hell is Ryan Fraser?!
Going to Palace, from the looks of things. We've lost interest (as has the Arse) according to a few sources.
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg is official! ✍️ We are delighted to announce the signing of Pierre-Emile Højbjerg from Southampton!#HøjbjergIsHere ⚪️ #COYS— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 11, 2020 As well as Kyle Walker-Peters going the opposite direction: Here to stay! 😇We’re delighted to confirm @KWPeters has completed a permanent transfer to #SaintsFC!— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) August 11, 2020
Never believe it until you see them holding up the shirt! Good business, I think. Apparently KWP wanted to leave. Still a lot to be done...
According to ITK on SC, Serge wants out. We're working on it with Milan, but not really close. Max Aarons in from Norwich is a strong possibility; and with KWP and possibly Aurier out, we'll certainly need another right back (or two). I don't know anything about him in terms of quality. It's also being said that we're trying to offload Lamela. AS Roma is his preference; elsewhere in Italy being his preferred destination if that doesn't work. This one saddens me a bit, as he's rather grown on me, and I rate him as a squaddie. But times are tight and what needs done will be done. He's the last of the 'magnificent seven' that was acquired with the Bale money, as a trivial tidbit. ... speaking of which ... am I the only one who kinda misses Nacer Chadli?
I don't hate Aurier, but I wouldn't miss him. Too inconsistent - sometimes great, sometimes horrible. I would miss Lamela, but somebody needs to be sold. If we can get a decent price, go for it. Lots of holes to fill yet. Chadli was underrated.
With Hojbjerg in, Lamela has dropped down a peg in a long queue in our midfield. If Jose plays his preferred 4-2-3-1, it will be Hjobjerg and somebody in the 2 (Winks or Ndombele), and any 3 of Son, Lucas, Bergwijn, Dele or Lo Celso behind Kane.
I don't think with Mourinho's defensive focus we can tolerate inconsistency in the defenders. So a more reliable RB is a priority. Motto of the transfer window though is 'grass is always greener'. Even Walker had regular mistakes and has continued to have at City.
I popped onto a Soton message board yesterday to see what folks were saying about Hojbjerg. I was expecting a bit of anti-Spurs bitterness, as we've taken a bit of talent off their hands - and not always politely. At any rate, mostly level heads there, and while some folks have different notions, the general consensus is that Hojbjerg is first-rate and breaking up play and protecting the defense, and that his attitude is excellent. But none seem impressed with his abilities on the ball - little vision and poor passing. The upshot seems to be that he'll make an excellent Mourinho-type player, but should Mourinho go early (a possibility we've all acknowledged), he'll struggle to impress. In short, most had decent things to say about him, but very few seem upset in the slightest by Saints moving him on. It didn't come off as sour grapes at all, but ya never know if there's a subconscious element of that. I suspect some of them are right when they say some Spurs fans will be disappointed in him with the ball at his feet. But if his strengths are as touted, that'll be good enough for me - and probably a lot of us. For whatever it's worth, they also seem quite pleased to have gotten KWP for the money they've spent. Looking, too, at many of ours' responses on SC, it seems an odd situation where both sets of fans seem to be responding sensibly and rationally regarding the signings and where their respective clubs currently stand. Bizarre.